Val Thorens, France

Resort Overview for Val Thorens:

Val Thorens represents the pinnacle of ski resort development to date - at least in terms of its altitude. The highest ski resort in Europe, located in a vast snowy bowl within the biggest ski area in the world, the resort and its surrounding ski area has continued to evolve since its opening in 1971.

Today it can claim to be a stylish 'village' and world class ski resort rather than a clutch of rather desolate, high altitude buildings as some imagine. In contrast to that image, the resort has been constructed using local wood and stone to designs inspired by traditional local Savoie architectural tradition.

More than 250m Euros have been spent in recent years in improving and expanding the resort and the local ski area. The whole has also been designed to a well considered plan giving it a compact, largely pedestrianised centre where most of the public facilities (of which there are many!) are concentrated. This investment has helped the constant popularity of Val Thorens which now attracts some two million visitors annually (placing it in the world top 20 ski resorts by popularity as well as altitude) . It also boasts occupancy rate of around 90% on average through the season, making it the envy of many other famous ski resorts.

Always been ahead of the game on many levels, even being one of the first areas to offer wi-fi internet access in 2003. A year later it showed its environmental credentials by tackling smokers who drtopped cigarette butts from chairlifts pointing out the total can reach as many as 30,000 below just one of the more popular access chairs. he resort believes that apart from being a major eye-sore, they're also a major environmental hazard, with each individual cigarette end likely to contaminate a cubic metre of water. Stressing that they were not launching an anti-smoking capaign, just a "responsible disposal of cigarette butts campaign", the tourist office added a glass box that will display the thousands of cigarette butts picked up alongside an exhibition showing the long-term environmental damage caused by man-made trash. Two thousand pocket containers designed to hold used cigarettes were provided for skiers.

Despite being north facing, the resort's altitude ensures it gets good sunshine with little over-shadowing it. The tourist office is open from 9am to 7pm daily (even to 4am on Sunday morning for those arriving late on Saturday night) for all information.

The Skiing in Val Thorens:

Located at the top off the world's biggest ski area, guests at Val Thorens have doorstep access to up to 600km (375 miles) of piste divided in to nearly 300 ski runs for all standards, served by 200 lifts. Due to the resort's altitude, skiing can be offered for six months of the year, normally from November, if conditions are right, to mid-May. All levels of skiers have a seemingly endless choice of skiing, but it's perhaps advanced and expert winter sports enthusiasts who will feel the benefits of the area the most, simply because such a choice is more of a rarity for them. They will be drawn to the powder fields on the Peclet and Chavière glaciers and the famous mogul slopes of the Cîme de Caron black, and they're just for starters.

Intermediate level skiers have the most choice of all with over 200 runs in the Trois Vallees categorised red or blue. Skier numbers are dispersed throughout the area making queues a rarity. Beginners will find many wide gentle slopes around the resort itself especially for them, with some lifts free for first-timers. Recent investments have resulted in the resort now boasting three six-seater detachable chair lift and a new quad down in to the Maurienne Valley on the Italian border which some claim makes the 3 Valleys now 4 Valleys! The Caron cable car has also been upgraded.

Val Thorens has some of the best ski lifts available and now operates more Funitel style lifts than any other. These are high speed gondola lifts that run on two cables for extra stability (compared to the usual one) and have large cabins for extra capacity. In 2002 a 2km (1.25 mile) long Fond 2 Funitel with a capacity of 3000 skiers per hour was added to create a new ski area at Plan Bouchet, also served by two fixed grip quad chairs and offering three additional slopes The following season another Funitel, the €4.5m Bouquetin, the resort's third, was added to the Plein Sud sector taking up to 2000 users per hour towards the 3 Vallées inter-connect.

The French ski school, with around 200 instructors, offers tuition in all disciplines. More unusual options include the Moguls Course run by Eric and Patrick Berthon, Eric being the first Mogul World Champion. Telemark courses are also offered

Après Ski in Val Thorens:

Increasingly highly regarded for its après ski options, Val Thorens has over 130 bars and restaurants to choose from, along with sports centre and swimming pool and a cinema which shows films in English. You can also try the longest toboggan run in France, ice driving, snowmobiling or check out the new bowling complex with pool hall (full details in 'Facilities' section below).

About 70% of guests at the resort are non-French, with a good proportion of those being German or Dutch, thus helping to contribute to a lively atmosphere at venues such as the Ski Rock Cafe. The Malaysia has a reputation for live music and there are two official discotheques of which The Underground is most popular.

Accommodation in Val Thorens:

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